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Math
Tower Hill’s Mathematics Department is committed to providing a rigorous college-preparatory program. Our course offerings cover the major concepts and applications of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, functional analysis and statistical analysis, as well as the underpinnings of calculus.
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As part of our curriculum, students will be expected to develop the ability to reason and communicate mathematically, to gain confidence in solving challenging problem sets, and to appreciate the value of a strong mathematical foundation for life in the 21st century. The development of our students’ analytical and problem solving capabilities will be of equal importance to their mastery of each concept. The study of mathematics is more than memorization or the practicing of a particular skill—it involves analyzing concepts, recognizing their applications and understanding their theoretical foundations. Improving our students’ conceptual understanding, mathematical reasoning and abstract thinking capabilities takes time—our courses are designed to allow for and to encourage that growth to occur. Consequently, each student moves through the curriculum at a pace that is suitably challenging, yet developmentally appropriate.
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Science
Scientific thinking inspires a lifelong curiosity about the world in which we live. Through hands-on laboratory investigations, research opportunities and interdisciplinary study, the Tower Hill Science Department prepares its students to be critical thinkers in a dynamic world.
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The Tower Hill Science Department guides its students to be active and articulate learners through traditional methods, emerging technologies, meaningful laboratory experiences, discovery-based activities and exciting research opportunities. In the classroom, students will build models, analyze patterns, and apply their discoveries to new problems. As scientific knowledge is dynamic and interdisciplinary in nature, so too is our curriculum. We believe in a robust, well-rounded and interdisciplinary science education; a rigorous and individualized approach to learning; hands-on laboratory investigations; attention to and integration of current and emerging technologies; and the preparation of our students to be critical thinkers in a rapidly changing world.
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STEM
STEM education focuses on the intersection and integration of four main areas: Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. At Tower Hill, STEM study is not confined to just one subject area; rather, STEM is incorporated into the curriculum of all three divisions. Students learn to make interdisciplinary connections and work hands-on in labs and classrooms to explore new ideas about their world.
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A STEM education equips students for success in a rapidly changing world. At Tower Hill, STEM coursework prepares our students to think critically, to collaborate, to manage challenging projects and to come up with creative solutions. By building a strong foundation in STEM, we prepare our students to become the next generation of innovators.
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English
The Tower Hill English Department strives to engender a capacity for reason within every student; emphases include recognition of sound logic, comprehension of complex argument and communication about a diverse world. The department’s longstanding values establish that a community of cooperative learners—in heterogeneous and diverse groups—develops most functionally, cultivating compassionate leadership within and among all.
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Through reading, analyzing and writing about some of the most significant works in literature, we practice our skills at building a better world, beginning locally inside our very own classrooms. Within the Tower Hill English and reading curricula, students and teachers work together to travel the timeline of humanity’s translation of ideas into argument and story, encountering myriad genres, styles, aesthetics, voices and themes; the ultimate goal of reading and writing is passionate cultivation of humane curiosity and empathetic perspective—evidence of literature’s loftiest designs.
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History
The Tower Hill History Department offers a rigorous and well-rounded curriculum to prepare students for global citizenship in the 21st century. Students will analyze and engage with a variety of diverse perspectives to develop a nuanced understanding of the forces that shape our contemporary world.
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The Tower Hill History Department exposes students to a wide variety of geographic regions and time periods, with our youngest students learning about their local communities to our oldest students participating in specialized elective courses. Students will study both local and global histories; they will practice historical writing, research and group discussion; they will demonstrate knowledge of contextualization, continuity and change over time, and periodization. After engaging with historical sources, students will be asked to identify specific points of view, to synthesize primary and secondary materials, and to utilize evidence to craft compelling written and oral arguments.
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Language
The mission of the Tower Hill Language Department is to inspire in our students a cultural curiosity and to support them in their exploration of one or more languages. Throughout their course of study, students will gain a greater appreciation for diverse perspectives and engage in cross-cultural understanding.
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The Tower Hill Language Department strives to promote advanced study of non-English speaking cultures, fostering in our students an appreciation for multiple languages, literatures, the arts and history. Through intensive conversational practice and interactive projects, our students are well-equipped to communicate effectively in their respective target languages. Each aspect of our curricula is designed to promote cultural competency as we prepare our students to become global citizens.
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Music
The Tower Hill Music Department continues in the School’s tradition of presenting a diversity of cultural beliefs, encouraging our students to gain aesthetic sensitivity and preparing them to become well-adjusted community members. At Tower Hill, we believe that musical education is an integral component of a well-rounded, schoolwide curriculum, and we are thrilled to offer numerous opportunities for students at all ages to perform.
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"Without music, life would be a mistake." —Friedrich Nietzsche
Our department provides the foundations for a musical education, offering a variety of opportunities for students in Lower, Middle and Upper School to participate in musicals, choral concerts and instrumental performances. Concert Band, Jazz Band, Concert Choir, Vocal Ensemble, String Orchestra, and numerous small chamber groups are just some of the examples from the many programs we have to offer.
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Theater
The Tower Hill Theater Department offers numerous opportunities for students to explore different acting styles, to collaborate during rehearsals and to gain valuable production experience.
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Both in the classroom and during after school programs, students study Shakespeare and cultural dance; they practice advanced lighting design and special effects makeup; they experiment with different genres of playwriting; and they explore traditional acting techniques and improvisation. The Tower Hill Theater Department encourages students to collaborate across disciplines as they hone their creative skills.
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Visual Art and Design
The mission of Tower Hill’s Visual Arts Department is to strengthen our students’ confidence in their creativity and ability to learn new concepts and techniques. We aim to promote the development of a broad range of skills, including critical thinking, visual language capabilities, productive skills, diverse aesthetic processes and affective motivation.
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The Tower Hill Visual Arts Department emphasizes five main topics: critical thinking, visual language, productive skills, aesthetic processes and affective motivation. By studying various artworks, both historical and contemporary, our students are introduced to a wide range of concepts, terminology and theory; they explore various artistic mediums and techniques; they develop unique aesthetic processes and interpret diverse visual works; and they discover a new sense of self-awareness and acceptance as they express themselves creatively.
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Library and Research
The Neela Patel Center for Innovation, otherwise known as THE Hub, prepares students at Tower Hill to be critical thinkers, enthusiastic readers, skilled researchers and ethical consumers. THE Hub is home to a diverse collection of print and online resources, as well as the Teaching and Learning Center (TLC).
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Individual and group study areas in the library encourage collaboration, creativity and research. The Middle School and Upper School Library collection includes print resources of magazines, newspapers and over 10,000 books. Students can also access more than fifty databases through UDLib/search, as well as individual subscriptions—such as JSTOR, ProQuest and NYTimes online—and ebooks on campus and at home.
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The Teaching and Learning Center
Growth is the central tenet of the mission of the Teaching and Learning Center at Tower Hill School. Established in 2016, the TLC is a resource for students and teachers who wish to maximize learning processes, address specific academic challenges, engage in best practices, seek support for documented learning differences, or challenge themselves to achieve new levels of excellence. The TLC is a process-oriented nucleus of the school that fosters dialogue, innovation, flexibility and excellence in individualized teaching and learning in the 21st century.
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Existing to uphold the mission and philosophy of the school in all circumstances, the TLC is in a position to recommend reasonable accommodations for students with documented needs but cannot support requests to modify curricula. Our Learning Specialists endeavor to equip students and teachers with tools, strategies and opportunities to learn about learning so that they may build repertoires, excel and nurture the mindsets needed for continuing education. Advisors will serve as the preliminary contact in the student referral process to the TLC. The TLC is located in the Neela Patel Center for Innovation - THE Hub.
